Adjacent Words

Senna definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SEN'NA, n. The leaf of the cassia senna, a native of the east, used as a cathartic.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of various plants of the genus Senna having pinnately compound leaves and showy usually yellow flowers; many are used medicinally

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: New Latin, from Arabic san? Date: 1543 1. any of a genus (Cassia syn. Senna) of leguminous herbs, shrubs, and trees native to warm regions; especially one used medicinally 2. the dried leaflets or pods of various sennas (especially C. angustifolia syn. Senna alexandrina) used as a purgative

Britannica Concise

Any of several plants, especially of the genus Cassia, in the pea family (see legume), mostly of subtropical and tropical regions. Many are used medicinally; some yield tanbark used in preparing leather. Some sennas are among the showiest flowering trees. In the E U.S., wild sennas (C. hebecarpa and C. marilandica) grow up to 4 ft (1.25 m) high and have showy spikes of yellow flowers. Some species are Old World shrubs or small trees.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a cassia tree. 2 a laxative prepared from the dried pod of this. Etymology: med.L sena f. Arab. sana

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Senna Sen"na, n. [Cf. It. & Sp. sena, Pg. sene, F. s['e]n['e]; all fr. Ar. san[=a].] 1. (Med.) The leaves of several leguminous plants of the genus Cassia. (C. acutifolia, C. angustifolia, etc.). They constitute a valuable but nauseous cathartic medicine. 2. (Bot.) The plants themselves, native to the East, but now cultivated largely in the south of Europe and in the West Indies. Bladder senna. (Bot.) See under Bladder. Wild senna (Bot.), the Cassia Marilandica, growing in the United States, the leaves of which are used medicinally, like those of the officinal senna.